EFFECT OF DRY LIVE YEAST INCLUSION IN FATTENING RABBIT DIETS ON PRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCE AND DIGESTIBILITY OF NUTRIENTS

This investigation carried out to establish the dietary dry live yeast (DY) effect on the productive performance and nutrients digestibility of weanling rabbits through growth period (6-11 wks old). A total of 60 weanling cross-bred rabbit (Californian × New Zealand)-6 wks-old, were weighted and randomly allotted into 5 groups. Rabbits groups fed basal diets (18.3% CP and 2675 Kcal DE) contained DY with 0.0, 0.50, 1.00, 1.50, 2.0%, respectively. Results showed that final weights and weight gain were insignificantly improved for dietary treatments compared to the control through the period of 6-11 wks-old. Meanwhile, treated groups recorded similar feed amount consumed except those fed 0.5%DY that consumed the least amount than the control through the period of 6-11 wks-old. Feed efficiency was improved by presence of DY in the diet compared to the control with through the period of 6-11 wks old. All nutrients digestion coefficients were insignificantly improved by DY in the diet, while crud fiber digestibility was significantly enhanced compared with the control. In conclusion, the presence of dry live yeast inclusion in weanling rabbit diet could trigger positive effects for growth performance and nutrients digestibility through growing period.